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Opposition fails to have Speaker Slipper sacked

BRENDAN TREMBATH: There have been extraordinary scenes in Federal Parliament, as the Opposition has attempted to have the Speaker, Peter Slipper, sacked.

The Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says Mr Slipper is not fit to be Speaker after sexist and highly offensive text messages sent by him to a former staffer became public.

Mr Abbott lashed out at the Prime Minister, saying she has shamed the Parliament by appointing Mr Slipper to the chair.

Julia Gillard struck back, calling Mr Abbott a misogynist.

From Canberra Samantha Hawley reports.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: We've never seen a Question Time quite like this one.

TONY ABBOTT: This Speaker is no longer a fit and proper person to uphold the dignity of this Parliament.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, moved a motion to have the Speaker Peter Slipper sacked.

In a rare decision, the Government said the motion could proceed, allowing an hour and a half of debate before a vote on whether Mr Slipper should be dumped.

TONY ABBOTT: I must allude, and I only allude, to the gross references to female genitalia. I must allude, Madame Deputy Speaker, to the vile anatomical references to which this Speaker appears to be addicted.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The Opposition Leader's referring to multiple text messages between Mr Slipper and his former staffer, James Ashby.

Two hundred pages of texts have been released by the Federal Court, where Mr Ashby is taking sexual harassment action against the Speaker.

Some of the messages are highly offensive, including one where Mr Slipper refers to the appearance of female genitalia.

Another refers to the Liberal frontbencher, Sophie Mirabella, in a degrading way.

TONY ABBOTT: Madame Depute Speaker, it's not just the Speaker who has failed the character test. It is indeed this Prime Minister who has failed the judgement test.

This Prime Minister handpicked the current Speaker for the top job of this Parliament.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Tony Abbott says the Prime Minister should apologise for making the decision to put Mr Slipper in the Speaker's chair in the first place.

TONY ABBOTT: What this Prime Minister has done is shame this Parliament and should she rise in this place now to try and offend the Speaker, to try and say that she retains confidence in this Speaker, she will shame this Parliament again.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Then he went further, using similar language to the broadcaster Alan Jones.

TONY ABBOTT: And every day the Prime Minister stands in this Parliament to defend this Speaker will be another day of shame for this Parliament, another day of shame for a government which should already have died of shame.

This Speaker should be gone; this Speaker should be gone today.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The Prime Minister Julia Gillard came back at the Opposition Leader.

It was an extraordinary, memorable attack.

JULILA GILLARD: I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. And the Government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. Not now, not ever.

Because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn't need a motion in the House of Representatives, he needs a mirror, that's what he needs.

ANNA BURKE: Order! Order!

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Julia Gillard listed the Opposition Leader's past statements which she says show his repulsive double standards when it comes to misogyny and sexism.

JULIA GILLARD: When the Leader of the Opposition, as minister for health said, and I quote, "Abortion is the easy way out," I was very personally offended by those comments.

I was also very offended on behalf of the women of Australia, when in the course of this carbon pricing campaign, the Leader of the Opposition said, "When the housewives of Australia need to do - what the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing."

Thank you for that painting of women's roles in modern Australia.

I was offended when the Leader of the Opposition went outside in the front of Parliament and stood next to a sign that said "Ditch the witch". I was offended when the Leader of the Opposition stood next to a sign that described me as a man's bitch.

ANNA BURKE: Order!

JULIA GILLARD: The Government is not dying of shame. My father did not die of shame.

("Hear, hear")

What the Leader of the Opposition should be ashamed of is his performance in this Parliament and the sexism he brings with it.

JULIA GILLARD: I'm offended by their content because I am always offended by sexism.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: But she says the matter is before the courts.

JULI A GILLARD: The judge has reserved his decision. This Parliament should see that conclusion.

TONY ABBOTT: The Prime Minister herself is now saying, oh, I couldn't possibly comment on something which is before the courts. Oh, no, not me. Not me. Upholder of standards, upholder of decency.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The Opposition lost the vote, but only narrowly

ANNA BURKE: The result of the division is ayes - 69, nos – 70. The question is therefore negated.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: It did have the support of the independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

Bob Katter abstained with his independent colleagues, Rob Oakeshott, and Tony Windsor and the Greens MP, Adam Bandt voting with the Government.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Samantha Hawley.

The Speaker, Peter Slipper, has this evening issued a statement apologising for the text messages. In it he says nothing excuses their content and he understands why women, in particular, would be offended.

He says it was intended the text messages be private and many occurred before he became Speaker.